• Republican Congressional candidate Scotty Moore of Congressional District 9 filed a lawsuit with the Leon County Circuit Court in an attempt to be restored on ballots
• Moore was disqualified when the Florida Department of State claimed his campaign submitted improper paperwork
• The Congressional candidate told The Capitolist that he expects to win the suit and be placed on the ballot again
• Moore was an early favorite to win the Republican primary

Republican Congressional candidate Scotty Moore confirmed to The Capitolist on Wednesday that his campaign filed a lawsuit with Leon County Circuit Court this week against Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd, as well as the supervisors of elections in Orange, Osceola, and Polk counties in an attempt to be restored on ballots after his removal over an incorrect “Candidate Oath” form filing.

Moore was eliminated from the race when the Florida Department of State claimed he submitted the improper “Candidate Oath” form. In contrast to candidates for federal office, Moore submitted a “Candidate Oath for State and Local Partisan Offices.”

The Orlando politician is seen as an early favorite to run against incumbent Darren Soto, a Democrat from Kissimmee. Other qualifying Republicans include Sergio Ortiz, Jose Castillo, and Adianis Morales.

Moore told The Capitolist that he believes his right to due process was infringed upon and expressed optimism that his name would be restored to ballots. Moore cited a Florida court ruling on Wednesday, which mandated that the state put Congressional candidate James Judge back on the ballot after the Republican filed a complaint alleging that he was improperly removed from the primary.

The Congressional candidate expressed the belief that his case is even stronger than that of Judge, expecting a win in the lawsuit. Moore also noted that he hired the same lawyer as Judge.

Moore states that his campaign filed the necessary paperwork four days prior to the deadline and delivered them in person to the State Division of Elections office, going on to claim that his team was told that they had provided all necessary paperwork and documentation.

Meanwhile, election opponent Castillo commended the decision to remove Moore, claiming that his disqualification “upheld election integrity.

“I am pleased that the Florida Division of Elections upheld election integrity by disqualifying my former primary opponent Scotty Moore after he failed to file the proper Candidate Oath required under Florida law,” said Castillo. “The voters in Florida’s 9th District deserve a fair and just electoral process.”

Castillo goes on to refer to himself as the “clear frontrunner” of the race, contingent on the status of Moore’s lawsuit.

Moore landed an endorsement in May from Mark Meadows. Meadows, a former North Carolina congressman who also served as the White House Chief of Staff from 2020 to 2021 under former President Donald Trump, touted Moore’s ‘America First’ campaign which he says will be instrumental in flipping the House in 2022.

“Scotty is a devout Christian and devoted husband and father whose campaign is rooted in the America First agenda”, said Meadows. “America is currently experiencing a serious leadership crisis in D.C., and it is dependent upon candidates like Scotty to right the ship and get us back on course. I am proud to endorse his campaign for Congressional District 9 and flip the House.”